Boxford Bandogges
What is a Bandog/Bandogge and what is the Bandogge concept?
Bandogge was the name originally given to the working Mastiff of England, and, in fact, the word mastiff did not come into general use in Britain until the end of the eighteenth century - the Middle English word Bandogge being used almost exclusively prior to this!
The medieval Bandogges were large powerful, broad-mouthed dogs and, unlike the modern show-type Mastiff - a creature that was changed out of all recognition by the addition of Alpine Mastiff (St. Bernard), Tibetan Mastiff and Great Dane blood early in the nineteenth century - they were agile, active canine athletes of the first order. Superb guards and protectors of hearth and home, these heavily-muscled dogs were also hunters of large dangerous game: a task at which they excelled. However, the lack of a role in the modern world for this ancient breed eventually led to their decline and transformation into a show animal that, unfortunately, bears little resemblance to the ancestral type.
British dog expert David Hancock summed up the fate of the Mastiff succinctly when he wrote, “Directly you stop breeding a dog to a known function, even one long lapsed, then the breed that dog belongs to loses its way”.
Fortunately however, all is not lost for the noble Mastiff breeds: the right genes are still there - albeit that they are combined with a number of undesirable traits - and it is still possible to resurrect, to restore, to recreate! All it takes is hard work and dedication!
Most would agree that the American Bandogge Mastiff concept dates from the mid 1960s and that it came about because of a desire on the part of an American veterinarian, John B. Swinford, to create the ultimate guard dog. Simply put, Swinford’s idea was to pull from the shared gene pool, and to recombine the so called “gladiator breeds” with Mastiff, to recreate the Bandogge. After the initial breedings, moving forward, all selection would be based on performance and performance alone. Swinford concentrated primarily on crossing the English Mastiff with performance-selected American Pit Bull Terriers, and he was enjoying considerable success with his Swinford Bandogges, when his untimely death in 1971 called a halt to the program before he had managed to set a type.
Nevertheless,it is undoubtedly thanks to Swinford that the Bandogge concept lives and flourishes in twenty first century America. Of course, as might be expected, opinions differ as to what constitutes a Bandogge! Some breeders are content to cross various Mastiff breeds and to call the results Bandogges, but there are others, inspired by Dr. Swinford, who follow selective performance-based breeding practices in order to produce dogs that are truly worthy of the name Bandogge.
At Wood’s Edge Kennels our mission is to produce Bandogges with the same merits as the ancestral type. To be used in our breeding program therefore, a Boxford Bandogge has to be proven in personal protection, pass extensive DNA screening for hereditary issues and have good hip structure confirmed by radiographs. It must also pass endurance and agility tests.
Our dogs are not for everyone, but if you feel that there is a place in your family for a loyal, loving guardian we will be happy to talk to you. Thank you for taking the time to look at our website.
